Book of the Month Subscription Review + Coupon – August 2016
Book of the Month is a monthly book subscription box. Each month, 5 curators pick out their favorite new hardcover books, and you can choose which one you want to receive on the first of the month. You can also add up to 2 additional books for only $9.99 each.
We were sent this box for review purposes. (Check out the review process post to learn more about how we review boxes).
Check out all of our reviews of Book Subscription Boxes for more options, too!
The Subscription Box: Book of the Month
The Cost: $16.99 a month (less with 3 and 12 month subscriptions)
COUPON: Now through the 27th, use coupon code FLASH50 when you buy a 3-month Book of the Month subscription! (That brings the cost down to $7.49 a book!)
The Product: Subscribers get to pick from a selection of hardcover books each month. Skip any month you aren’t interested in. Add up to two additional books for $9.99.
Ships to: US Only
Check out all of my Book of the Month reviews!
Keep Track of Your Subscriptions: Add this box to your subscription list or wish list!
For August, subscribers picked from the following 5 books:
I’m reviewing Siracusa:
Siracusa by Delia Ephron – Retail Value $26 (On Amazon for $17.04)
Book Summary from Amazon:
An electrifying novel about marriage and deceit from bestselling author Delia Ephron that follows two couples on vacation in Siracusa, a town on the coast of Sicily, where the secrets they have hidden from one another are exposed and relationships are unraveled.
New Yorkers Michael, a famous writer, and Lizzie, a journalist, travel to Italy with their friends from Maine—Finn; his wife, Taylor; and their daughter, Snow. “From the beginning,” says Taylor, “it was a conspiracy for Lizzie and Finn to be together.” ToldRashomon-style in alternating points of view, the characters expose and stumble upon lies and infidelities past and present. Snow, ten years old and precociously drawn into a far more adult drama, becomes the catalyst for catastrophe as the novel explores collusion and betrayal in marriage.
With her inimitable psychological astuteness and uncanny understanding of the human heart, Ephron delivers a powerful meditation on marriage, friendship, and the meaning of travel. Set on the sun-drenched coast of the Ionian Sea, Siracusa unfolds with the pacing of a psychological thriller and delivers an unexpected final act that none will see coming.
I’m about a quarter way into the book so far, and I like the alternating points of view for each chapter. Every character has a distinctive voice, and while I can’t say I like any of them – I’m thoroughly intrigued!
This book came with a letter from the judge, Kim Hubbard, on why she picked this book:
And a Book of the Month bookmark:
And this month, Book of the Month included a little bonus item – a wine glass koozie!
This ended up being a perfect accessory for Siracusa. A few chapters in, they were eating at a restaurant in Italy with plenty of delicious wine – so it was perfect for me to have a drink in hand as well!
Each book is selected by a judge, and each judge includes a brief letter on why they selected the book. And you get a Book of the Month bookmark, too!
Verdict: I’m very pleased with the value of my Book of the Month subscription. The prices are better than Amazon for new hardcover releases, and they always feature a good mix of popular new books. And I love that you can skip any month you aren’t interested in, and you can also buy books from previous months as add-ons for $9.99.
What do you think of the Book of the Month subscription? Which book (or books) did you pick this month?
Written by Liz Cadman
I got Circling the Sun and it was FANTASTIC! I wasn’t sure about it but once I started I couldn’t put it down. I ended up ordering a few more books written by the characters in the book (as it is based on true events and people) and am nearly finished with those. Would HIGHLY recommend this book!
Adding it to my reading list! So glad to hear you loved it! 🙂
I’m kicking myself for not getting this month’s BOTM because I am DYING to read All the Ugly and Wonderful Things and I could have gotten at such an amazing discount if I ordered it through BOTM.
I think today (8/21) is the last day to sign up and still get August.
That is the book I chose and it was really good! I hated having to put it down! highly recommend reading it
If you sign up now for the September selection, you can always add on past books for $9.99 each. Hope that helps! 🙂
Am I the only one who couldn’t figure out how to use the koozie? Hahaha I’m guessing there was a card in the box about that wine glass koozie, but I tore into “Dark Matter” and ignored the other stuff as usual. Good to know about the koozie!
At first I thought I might break the wine glass trying to get the koozie on, but it fit! 🙂
I couldn’t figure it out, either. No card in my box. I showed it to everyone in my office (four people) and we were all stumped. We found that it does fit well over the top of a water bottle, but the logo would be upside down. So glad for MSA- the mystery is solved!
I got Dark Matter and read through it in a few days (fast for me!). Very thrilling!
I skipped this month because none of the titles interested me. However, BoTM is definitely one of my favorite subs- can’t wait to see the titles next month.
One of my favorite subs! Yay! And Liz…you changed your profile pic…I almost thought someone else reviewed this! Love it!!! Thanks for introducing me to this sub (and soooo many others!).
Thanks, Karen!! 🙂
This is my latest favorite sub! Each month has been so good and their extra are perfect. The judges are excellent.
Agree! It’s such a great value and the book selections are fab each month, too! 🙂
Thank you for the great review of the book. I ordered, from BOTM, The Woman in Cabin 10. I read the book the first day to 3/4’s if the book. The next day, I rolled out of bed and finished the book. I love TBOM Club. The judges do a great job of selecting the books and give a review without giving out any spoilers on the books. I pay for 3 months at a time which brings the price way down. I also add another book with my selection, usually.
Thanks, Debra! Now I want to read The Woman in Cabin 10! 🙂